9. Ivy
IVY
The gentle touch of fingers stroking down my arm lures me back to the present, slowly drawing me away from the comfort of the cloud I was floating on in my dream. I can feel my familiar sheets around me, but there’s a firm body beside me.
I feel delirious, yet safe, and it’s startling.
I don’t even know what day it is.
Despite my reluctance, I pry my eyes open and tilt my head a fraction so I can settle my gaze on who is beside me.
Sax.
Amusement dances in his eyes as he stares down at me, the rhythmic glide of his fingertips on my arm unswayed as he smiles.
The slight crinkle at the corner of his eyes catches my attention.
“What are you thinking about?” I breathe, and he drags his tongue along his bottom lip.
“Nicknames.”
My eyebrows gather in confusion. “In what sense?”
“Teddy calls you Princess.”
“Okay.”
“And Baron has claimed Firefly,” he continues, and my heart flutters at the reminder of it falling from his lips.
“Uh-huh.”
“Archer seemed set on Angel for a while there, but that hasn’t stuck. So I feel like I need to choose one before my options get any slimmer.”
It’s impossible not to blush under his intense stare. “What did you have in mind?” I muster, and he grins.
“Well, I’m obsessed with the fact that you’re my mate, but mate doesn’t really hold enough weight,” he starts, and I nod in agreement, as if I have a choice.
We both know I don’t. “Then that made me think of the lifelong bond of fated mates, which led me to Fate. It’s fitting for sure, but it’s too close to The Fates, and I want something entirely for you. ”
“And what are you thinking now?” I ask, watching him rub his lips together for a second before he speaks.
“Sunshine.”
My eyes widen. “That’s not where I expected you to go,” I admit, and he grins.
“I thought long and hard about Phoenix first, if I’m honest, and it’s a reflection of what you are, for sure, but I ultimately wanted to encapsulate who you are.”
“And you think I’m sunshine?” I clarify, and he nods, tightening his arm around me, pinning me against his side.
“At first I thought you were just my sunshine, but you literally are a ray of sunshine, even when no one is watching.”
My cheeks heat at his words. “How so?”
Apparently, I’m intent on drowning in compliments right now.
“You just exude this energy, even before your magic came to fruition. You light up every room you’ve ever been in. It’s like your soul is shining bright, making sure the world gets a chance to see just how beautiful you are. Do you like it?” he asks, and I snuggle against him, avoiding his gaze.
“Maybe.”
He presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“I think it fits you, Sunshine.”
How do words light me up like this? I shake my head, returning my stare to his. “You just like making me blush,” I grumble, and he snickers.
“Maybe, but it’s still the truth, Sunshine.”
“Stop,” I insist, as he peppers kisses around my face.
“Sunshine.”
Kiss.
“Sunshine.”
Kiss.
“Sunshine.”
Kiss.
“Sunshine.”
Kiss.
“You’re incorrigible,” I say with a giggle, and he relents, turning to face me head-on as he brushes a loose curl of hair behind my ear.
“You are—”
“No more compliments,” I interrupt, pressing the tip of my finger against his lips. “You’re going to ruin me.”
“You’ve already ruined me.”
The sincerity in his eyes threatens to floor me.
I don’t reply; I can’t. Instead, I lean into him.
Time passes, but I don’t care as I continue to shine in his presence.
“What day is it?” I blurt, and he huffs a laugh.
“Monday.”
I rear back in surprise. “Oh crap. What time is it? Have I—”
“You missed classes, but I think it’s safe to say you needed to.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to argue back, but I relent. He’s right. I would never have survived classes today.
“I can’t use that excuse tomorrow, though,” I mutter, and he nods.
“Then you won’t.” It’s as simple as that. “We do need to discuss protecting you, though,” he adds, and my spine stiffens.
“There is no protecting me,” I retort, and he cocks a brow.
He stares deep into my eyes, searing my soul before he clears his throat. “Baron told us.”
“Told you what?”
“That you want to forgive but not forget,” he confirms. I purse my lips but nod. I did say that. Now I’m questioning it. “That means letting us in, and with that comes our emotions too.”
“That sounds terrible,” I grumble, earning a grin, but it’s a fleeting moment before his eyes darken and tension ripples from him.
“All of this with Leonardo, your parents, damn, the Fifth Kingdom as a whole, is a lot. We’re nervous, and all we want to do is keep you safe. It’s all we’ve ever wanted,” he clarifies, and I gulp.
Silently, I hate that they’ve proven their desire to keep me safe. It goes against everything I’ve believed about them for so long.
Instead of arguing as I instinctively want to, I swallow my emotions. “I’m open to a conversation. I’m not open to being talked at,” I state, and he nods.
“You won’t lose your voice among us, Ivy. I’ll make sure of it.” His words soothe me in a way I can’t explain. It catches me off-guard, just like most of the words that have fallen from his mouth since I woke, and I nestle against him. “Besides, my mother wouldn’t allow it.”
I smirk, silently thanking Greta for being the baddest queen to ever reign.
“Can we talk over food? I’m starving,” I admit, and he sighs.
“No.”
I tilt my head back, searching for his eyes. “Why?”
“Because I already promised Meadow that you would be free for dinner.”
My jaw falls slack in surprise. “But you’re not making decisions for me, huh?” I muse, and he rolls his eyes.
“Selfless ones don’t count, do they?”
My heart flutters wildly in my chest. “I guess not.”
Brimming with success, he presses his lips against my forehead. “How about you get dressed and I’ll get the guys here?”
“Only if they’re quick. I really am hungry,” I insist, and he nods.
Before I change my mind, I roll out of bed and stalk toward my closet, rifling through my clothes until I settle on a cute yellow tank top and a denim skirt.
Blindly raking my fingers through my hair, I pull the ends back into a high ponytail with an almost-forgotten hair tie hanging off the edge of a shelf.
Eager to eat, I step back into my bedroom, immediately startling at the sight of my other three hated mates.
Sax sits at the foot of my bed, a knowing, amused grin on his lips.
He’s at least wearing a pair of shorts and t-shirt now, while his twin brother leans against the wall by the door, arms folded over his chest as his eyes rake over me.
Teddy is comfortable on my bed, his back against the headboard as he stretches out.
Archer completes the group, leaning against my desk in front of the window, and something tells me that’s what has Sax all amused.
It’s the exact same spot he…
Shaking my head, I clear my throat, trying to will the heat from my cheeks to disappear.
“That was fast,” I ramble, and Teddy grins.
“We were waiting next door.” His eyebrows dance, making it clear they’ve been there a while.
“Of course you were,” I mutter under my breath before my stomach grumbles.
“Let’s make this quick,” Sax declares, and Teddy scoffs.
“That’s not what she said.”
My cheeks burn hotter.
“We don’t want you walking anywhere alone,” Baron states, thankfully cutting to the point as his tongue flicks out along his bottom lip.
“But—”
“It doesn’t always have to be us, but it does need to be someone we trust,” Archer interjects before I can push back.
I’m only slightly irritated that they anticipated my complaint.
“That’s almost … fair,” I say with a heavy exhale.
“And we want to sweep your room so you don’t have to walk in on unexpected letters anymore,” Teddy adds, and my lips part, ready to fight for myself again, but right now, I could use the help. Both mentally and physically.
“I can’t argue with that,” I admit, butterflies swarming in my stomach.
For the first time, I’m having a conversation about my safety, not being spoken to like a child, and it feels refreshing. Sure, I’m agreeing to be escorted in most scenarios, but there’s no voice, just choice.
Archer clears his throat, eyebrows gathering slightly. “We did also want someone to protect you in here too, especially since your mom made an appearance again today, but… we want that bond to form naturally. If you want it to,” he rambles, making my eyebrows rise in surprise.
All I can do is gape for a moment.
That is…
Am I dealing with the same four men right now?
They’ve barreled through me and my protests at every given moment, yet here they are, seeking compromise before I can even grumble about the inconvenience.
Rubbing my lips together, I nod. “That sounds possible.”
My stomach chooses that moment to grumble again.
“Let her eat,” Baron states gruffly, opening my door and bringing the conversation to an end.
“Who do you want to walk with you?” Teddy asks, shuffling off the bed excitedly, and I scoff.
“Oh, I’m not choosing. It’s on you guys to figure that out,” I declare with a grin, happily heading to the door without a backward glance.
“Well, we all technically need to eat,” Sax says, and someone claps.
“Dibs!”
I barely make it over the threshold before the Water Protector is before me, hand extended in my direction. There was no mention of this, only that someone would be walking with me, but now that the truth has unraveled between us, I can’t stop craving more.
Before I can think better of it, I place my palm against his, and he laces our fingers together, tucking me at his side as he charges for the stairs. He moves fast, so fast I nearly trip, but all I can do is laugh as we make it out of the Fire Protector building.
I exhale, a sense of calm draping over me as the early-afternoon sun ghosts my skin. Paired with the gentle scent of wild flowers in the air, I’m in my element.
There’s not a single complaint in mind as I cut across campus with Teddy at my side and the others a few steps behind.
“I’m sorry about your mom,” Teddy blurts, catching me off guard, and my heart stutters for a moment as I blink at him.